MINE TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23809, 9 November 1940, Page 12

MINE TRAGEDY

PRAISE FOR RESCUE PARTY FULL INQUIRY TO BE HELD [by telegraph—rn ess association] GREYMOUTH, Friday The Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, who yesterday inspected Kaye and party's mine at Ten Mile, where an explosion on Wednesday caused the death of five men 5 said the work of Mr. F. Duffy, superintendent of the Dobson rescue station, and the rescue brigade, was deserving of the highest possible praise. The fact that within five hours 40 minutes from hearing of the disaster they had made a complete survey of the mine, and had everybody taken to the surface illustrated the value of these rescue stations. Without the work of the men from the rescue station, it was Safe to say that it would have taken at least 24 hours before the bodies could have been recovered, and, had there been any-men underground still living, the brigade would have rescued them. The senior inspector of mines on the West Coast, Mr. W. Parsonage, displayed great heroism in going into the mine in face of carbon monoxide to rescue Mr. Boote.

The Minister said that a thorough inquiry would be made into the cause of the disaster, as the Mines Department was anxious to ascertain the cause of it. ami if .my defect could be shown in the legislation it would soon be remedied. All district mines were idle to-day out of respect" for the victims of the disaster and to enable, the miners to attend the funerals. Mr. Webb visited the relatives of the victims last evening, . conveying the Government's and his personal sympathy.

FUNERALS OF THE VICTIMS 3000 MOURNERS ATTEND [BY TKT.KGRAT'II —PRESS ASSOCIATION] GBEYMOUTH. Friday The funerals of the live victims of the Ten Mile mine tragedy took place at the Karoro Cemetery, Greymouth, this afternoon, being attended by 3000 mourners from all parts of the West Coast, making the largest cortege seen in the district for a decade. The Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, represented the Government. Mr. John Ivaye and his son were buried in one grave, while the other victims were buried separately. Amongst the messages of sympathy was one from the Prime Minister, ihe Rt. Hon. P. Fraser.